Duoduo smiled at the Princess Consort of Pingyang, her eyes curving into little crescents.
"Mother, I will go talk to Father, don't you be afraid!"
"If Father knew that your favorite peony almost withered, he definitely wouldn't object!"
Hearing this, the steward panicked instantly.
"My lady, His Highness is occupied with a myriad of state affairs and is very busy."
"There is no need to trouble His Highness with such trivial matters."
Duoduo tilted her head.
"But, if we don't tell him, what if the servants make a mistake in the future and Mother gets blamed again?"
"Just now, you were right to remind us, Steward. So, if we tell Father in advance, he won't blame Mother!"
The steward looked at Duoduo's innocent and naive expression, his heart filled with bitterness.
"You are right, my lady."
Duoduo reached out her little hand and patted the steward's arm.
"Thanks to your reminder just now, I will tell Father later to increase your monthly allowance."
The steward jumped in fright.
"My lady, it is only what this humble servant ought to do. There is no need to raise my allowance!"
"Please, you absolutely must not tell His Highness, otherwise, he will be angry!"
"If you do a good job, you should be rewarded, right? Why would Father be angry?"
Duoduo tilted her head, expressing her confusion.
"Because it is all within my duties, my lady. I really do not want a raise!"
Sweat began to bead on the steward's forehead.
Seeing the steward's anxious state, Duoduo sighed like a little adult.
"No wonder Father always praises you in front of Mother, saying that with you managing the estate, Mother can relax a lot more."
"You must keep up the good work from now on, Steward!"
Duoduo looked at the steward with sparkling eyes, and the steward hastily agreed.
"Your Highness, this humble servant still has matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first."
The steward bowed and hurried away.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang watched the steward's retreating back and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Duoduo snuggled into the arms of the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Mother, I helped you send him away!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang had been holding Duoduo, but hearing her say this, she gently pulled the girl from her embrace.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked into Duoduo's eyes. "Did you say all that on purpose just now?"
Duoduo nodded proudly.
"Mother, aren't I amazing?"
"Amazing! But how did Duoduo know that Mother wanted to send him away?"
Duoduo smiled very obediently.
"The things he said made Mother uncomfortable. Mother frowned!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang unconsciously touched her forehead.
"Was it that obvious?"
Duoduo nodded.
"Mother, don't take his words to heart."
"You are in poor health and still have to manage the estate, so naturally, there are places you cannot oversee."
"Father would absolutely never be angry with you because of this!"
Hearing Duoduo mention the Prince of Pingyang, the Princess Consort of Pingyang's face darkened.
She had brought two maids and searched all morning, but still hadn't found any flaws in the steward's account books.
The discrepancies regarding the gardener that she had noticed before, she had also specifically looked into today.
The notes in the account book were very clear.
Because the gardener did not tend to the plants of other estates while managing the estate's flora, his wages were given according to the servants' quota.
It seemed she had remembered incorrectly before.
Duoduo saw the Princess Consort of Pingyang frowning, not knowing what she was thinking about.
She remembered that she had been away for a long time.
"Lianxin, go guard the intersection."
Duoduo instructed Lianxin. Lianxin was a bit surprised and looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Go on."
Although the Princess Consort of Pingyang didn't know what Duoduo wanted to do, she still nodded to Lianxin.
Lianxin walked away.
"Lüluo, go guard over there. Don't let anyone come over."
Duoduo sent away all the serving maids and older female servants.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was very surprised. She looked at Duoduo and asked, "What's wrong?"
Duoduo leaned in close to the Princess Consort of Pingyang and said in a very low voice.
"Mother, my sister and I found something. Sister!"
Duoduo reached out her hand toward Yingniang.
Yingniang looked left and right. Seeing no one, she finally pulled an account book out from her robes.
"What is this? A storybook?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang thought that Duoduo and the others had found a storybook left behind in the greenhouse by the gardener or someone in the estate.
Duoduo took the account book and solemnly placed it into the hands of the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked curious as she opened it to take a look.
When she clearly saw the contents inside, her previously casual expression instantly changed.
"Duoduo, where did you find this?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's voice carried a nervous tremble.
"Sister and I found it in the greenhouse!"
"When I went in just now, I saw the steward hiding something."
"Sister and I looked for a long time before we found it!"
Duoduo's face bore an expression of wanting credit.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang continued flipping through the account book, the expression on her face turning grave.
"This steward really does have a problem!"
Duoduo was a little curious. She tilted her small face up and looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Mother, were you already suspicious of him?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang originally did not want to discuss this with Duoduo, as she was too young after all.
However, the account book was found by Duoduo.
The evidence that she and her two personal maids had racked their brains trying to find had been unintentionally obtained by Duoduo.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked at Duoduo and nodded.
"Yes, Mother only discovered it recently."
"It is just that Mother had never found any evidence."
"It really is all thanks to Duoduo. Mother has finally confirmed that there is a problem with this steward."
"Then what do you plan to do next, Mother?" Duoduo tilted her small head.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang froze.
She had only been focused on finding evidence of the steward's embezzlement; she truly hadn't thought about what to do afterward.
Duoduo blinked her eyes.
"Mother, the steward was right just now."
"If you make a mistake while managing the household and don't tell Father, he will definitely be unhappy."
"Mother, Father says that realizing one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue."
"I think you should just take this and go confess your mistakes to Father!"
Hearing this, the Princess Consort of Pingyang felt suddenly enlightened.
"Yes, Duoduo, you are right!"
"You have been a huge help to Mother! Thank you!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang affectionately hugged Duoduo.
"Then you should hurry and go, Mother, lest the wicked steward complains first."
"I should also go back to class. Mother, hurry up and go!"
"Alright, let's go. We will go back together!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang stood up and slipped the account book into her sleeve pocket.
She held Duoduo's hand with one hand and Yingniang's with the other. Seeing their master leaving, the two maids hurriedly followed.
We shall skip over Duoduo and Yingniang returning to class.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang watched the retreating backs of Duoduo and Yingniang, then turned her head.
"Lianxin, you are fast on your feet. Go back and fetch the account books that the steward handed over."
"Yes." Lianxin walked briskly back to the room to fetch the items.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang stood under the corridor, pondering how she would explain the matter to His Highness in a moment.
